£500k Cocaine Haul Uncovered
A 33-year-old man has been jailed after police uncovered 5kg of cocaine worth over £500,000. Bradley Pritchard was stopped in Southend’s Thorpe Bay last November, where officers found a stash of Class A drugs hidden in his car and home.
Police Build a Case Before the Stop
Essex Police’s serious and organised crime unit had been tracking Pritchard before pulling him over on Johnstone Road. The suspect tried to dodge suspicion by claiming he was “just driving a work car” and gave cops a false address.
Drugs Found in Tesco Bag and Pink Suitcase
A search revealed £12,500 worth of cocaine in a Tesco bag inside his vehicle. Officers then traced Pritchard’s real home in Exford Avenue, Southend, where they found even more drugs. Four 1kg blocks were hidden inside a pink suitcase in a garden shed. Another 1kg block was stashed in a large plastic tub, along with drug packing gear. Plus, 100g of cocaine was found in a bedroom wardrobe.
Sentenced to Over Five Years
In total, Pritchard was caught with approximately £512,500 worth of cocaine ready for South Essex streets. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on 26 February to five years and four months behind bars. Other members of the drug ring have already faced convictions, with some awaiting sentencing.
Police also confirmed they will be pursuing Pritchard’s criminal earnings through financial investigations.
